question for the traditional archers

RescueRiley

RescueRiley

Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
5,944
I was looking at some youtube videos to try and watch the form of some "traditional archers" and I noticed that alot of them sem to hold thier bows at an angle when shooting. this is different from the way I shoot my compund or the way I've seen other people shoot thier souped up stabilized recurves, I was wondering what the purpose of this is??? does it change your anchor point? and if anyone could direct me to some links or a website where a slower than average intellect might learn about these things, also if you happen to have pics of proper form available that you could post, It'd be greatly appreciated. THanks
 
it is called canting the bow... you're basically moving the bow out of your vision... allowing youself to sight down the arrow a little easier.....
 
mtnfolk mike said:
it is called canting the bow... you're basically moving the bow out of your vision... allowing youself to sight down the arrow a little easier.....
Click to expand...

Sighting down the arrow!? Blasphemy to the instinctive archer community!


Sorry, I couldn't resist.:p In so many discussions instinctive shooters insist they do not look at/see the arrow when in reality they almost surely do whether they realize it or not, though I would believe they do not consciously do it. As long as they shoot center, what does it matter? Canting the bow makes it easier, as others have said. I don't see any reason it should affect on your anchor point.

Here's another place to visit:

http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/THREADSx2.CFM
 
Blue Sky said:
Sighting down the arrow!? Blasphemy to the instinctive archer community!


Sorry, I couldn't resist.:p In so many discussions instinctive shooters insist they do not look at/see the arrow when in reality they almost surely do whether they realize it or not, though I would believe they do not consciously do it. As long as they shoot center, what does it matter? Canting the bow makes it easier, as others have said. I don't see any reason it should affect on your anchor point.

Here's another place to visit:

http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/THREADSx2.CFM
Click to expand...

i do shoot instinctively and like you said, whether you know it or not you do sight(look) down the arrow...
 
I dont look down the arrow:p

I dont focus on it at least, I am sure I subconciesley do it or whatever. But my objective is the target and angle
 
Traditionally, also longbows were made without a rest or at least a very narrow shelf. Canting the bow helps keep the arrow on the top finger or the shelf.

I shoot a compound with peep and sights and actually started using a sight with a bubble level on it to keep it vertical. I was amazed at how much of a difference that made in accuracy. When I shoot my longbow, I shoot instinctively, cant the bow at about 40 deg. from vertical and concentrate on where I want the arrow to go. I don't shoot enough to hit a quarter, but I can put it in the kill zone on a white-tail from 30 yards 75% of the time. (That's mainly why I still hunt with the compound :))

J-
 
You should read "Instinctive Shooting" by G. Fred Asbell. There's some good pointers in there. I mostly cant the bow to keep the arrow on the shelf and also because it happens naturally.
 
Thanks guys...keep 'em coming. What is an average range to shoot at...my local range is indoor and set at 20 yards..
 
FLIX said:
I figured it was just ghetto. . . ;)

-- FLIX
Click to expand...

Lol thats good, I am gonna have to get a T-shrit with a canted bow on it saying "Go Ghetto" or something like that. Guys at the range will love it.

I shoot a Compound, recurve and Longbow. I would consider myself very proficient with all 3. I do most of my deer hunting with the compound and recurve. But I do hunt small game with the longbow.
 
I second G. Fred Ashbell. i shoot a longbow but i shot on pearson's pro staff for 2 years. form is essentially the same between the two. the cant is used to give a clearer sight picture and align the arrow under the eye (not saying you have to look at the arrow) but for the bow to shoot where you look you need to have every thing in alignment to form a "+" through the head the middle of the chest, from the tip of the arrow through the arms forming a 90degree angle between the arms and the centerline of the body. when you cant it should not change the basic archery form but simply help with centershot and archer overcome paradox.

i hope this made sense,
thomas
 
mtnfolk mike said:
i do shoot instinctively and like you said, whether you know it or not you do sight(look) down the arrow...
Click to expand...

Just like throwing a ball. We don't aim, we just do and through repetition, our brain learns and the aiming portion becomes an automatic response, instead of a deliberate action.

Here's another vote for Fred's book. Good reading and full of good information.
 
I was advised to tilt my bow early on, and that is generally what I do. I shoot home-made bare bows.

By tilting the bow, the arrow tends to stay in place better on the top of my hand.

Although I would say that I try to shoot instinctively, I think that it helps to have the arrow directly under your eye. While I might not consciously try to aim at anything, it just seems logical to have the arrow lined up. I suspect that many 'instinctive' shooters probably use the arrow this way whether they realize it or not....but I could be quite wrong.

Another reason to cant the bow over might be to counteract a stiff arrow's tendency to shoot to the left (the arrow sits on the left of my bow). I'm not sure if I totally believe this, but it seems to have worked in my experience...although I can never be sure if I haven't compensated for the problem in another subtle way without thinking about it.

I dont spend much time worrying about the correct arrow 'spline' .... I just make arrows that seem right then use them.

I practice shooting at maybe 15 to 20 yards. Some days are better than others. And more than once my first shot of the day has been one of the best even if I haven't practiced for a long time. Dunno why. Of course it is best to practice at random ranges for hunting.

I used to shoot in what I interpreted to be the classic target style for a longbow....with the bow arm extended fully and my drawing hand pulled right back alongside my cheek. I used to have a 27 or 28" draw back then. Now that I am wiser, I keep my bow arm kinked and anchor to one of my teeth. This means I no longer need to wear protection on my bow arm, and I can shoot shorter arrows (my draw is now around 24"). I find this to be a much better way of shooting for hunting....it is much more adaptable for quick shots and shots in the scrub. And it is much easier to find shorter shoots for arrows than it was to find long ones...although I am a fan for using long arrows for accuracy...even if I don't draw them all the way to the head. But shorter arrows are more convenient for hunting...pulling out of the quiver in the scrub etc.

I don't use my bows and arrows much nowadays having fallen in love with trapping...which seems a much more reliable way of harvesting meat. But I would not want to be without a bow.
Possum.jpg
 
Hey Guys..

Coote....

I can't figure out what you are holding ??

Another question for you Traditional archers..

Has anyone used a Korean Horse bow ??

They are Really small bows used for horseback..

I'd like to get one...

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I belive it's a possum from new zealand. Voote you are one hardcore dude..thankyou and everyone else for your hel so far
 
Blue Sky said:
Sighting down the arrow!? Blasphemy to the instinctive archer community!


Sorry, I couldn't resist.:p In so many discussions instinctive shooters insist they do not look at/see the arrow when in reality they almost surely do whether they realize it or not, though I would believe they do not consciously do it. As long as they shoot center, what does it matter? Canting the bow makes it easier, as others have said. I don't see any reason it should affect on your anchor point.

Here's another place to visit:

http://leatherwall.bowsite.com/TF/lw/THREADSx2.CFM
Click to expand...

I never really did when I shot compound and recurve, but it's supposedly a good place to start. It is a little silly, though, considering at any range you have to adjust up for distance, left and right for wind...

Reading a few of the other posts, it makes a lot more sense on 'native' bows without an arrow rest.

I loved archery, and I miss it very much since I've moved out of L.A. County. There's really no 'casual' range available here, the few available charge a membership fee and require time spent maintaining the range.
 
I would love to learn to do all of this but I am a BOW dummy. Something to accomplish before I cash the last check.


Thanks for posting.

Skam
 
watch out when hunting with heavy spined arrows, incorrect spine will severely decrease penatration(Sp). it will also cause bad grouping and will allow windage to effect the arrow more. ... just my expirence.
 
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